Assembly and staking apparatus



June 8, w. c KENT ASSEMBLY AND STAKING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 30, 1963 INVENTOR. W C. KENT A Z ATTORNEY June 5- 1965 w. c. KENTASSEMBLY AND STAKING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed' April 30, 1963June 8, w c, K N

ASSEMBLY AND STAKING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 50, 1965June 8, 1965 W. C. KENT ASSEMBLY AND STAKING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed April 30, 1965 June 8, 1965 w. c. KENT r ASSEMBLY AND STAKINGAPPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 30, 1965 June 8, 1965 w, c, KENT3,187,418

ASSEMBLY AND STAKING APPARATUS Filed April 30, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 6United States Patent 3,187,418 ASSEMBLY AND STAHHNG APPARATU William C.Kent, Gahanna, Ohio, assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated,New York, Nfifi, a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 34 1963, Ser. No.276,952 11 Claims. (Cl. 29203) The invention relates to an assembly andstaking apparatus and particularly relates to an apparatus forassembling a cylindrical sleeve with closures on opposite ends thereofand to the staking of the closures to the sleeve to provide asubassembly for a fuse body.

It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatusfor assembling cylindrical bodies with closures on opposite ends.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus forstaking assembled closures to a cylindrical body.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplatesan apparatus for inserting one end of a cylindrical sleeve into acup-like closure and thereafter inverting the assembled closure andsleeve and inserting the opposite end of the sleeve into another cuplikeclosure to provide an assembled unit. Subsequently, each closure isstaked to the cylindrical sleeve simultaneously to provide a subassemblyof a fuse body.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a cylindrical sleeve having a pair ofcup-like closures which are to be assembled on opposite ends of thesleeve to provide a subassembly for a fuse body;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a plurality of work stations positionedadjacent to the periphery of an indexing turntable;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with parts broken awayfor clarity showing the insertion of a cup-like closure into areceptacle on an indexable turn table;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 with parts broken awayfor clarity showing a die-stamping device in engagement with thepreviously positioned closure in the turntable whereby fuse-typedesignations are stamped on the closure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing themechanism for the die-stamping device;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 with parts broken away for clarityshowing the feeding of a cylindrical sleeve into the previouslypositioned closure in the turntable;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 with parts broken awayfor clarity showing an escapement mechanism for permitting a single fusebody to be fed into the previously positioned closure;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along line 88 of FIG. 2 with parts broken awayfor clarity showing the feeding of the assembled sleeve and closure intoa vacuum line to be drawn away from the turntable;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along line 2-9 of FIG. 2 with parts broken awayfor clarity showing a staking device for staking the closures to theopposite ends of the cylindrical sleeve and further shows means forpositioning the assembled fuse body into a vacuum line for withdrawingthe assembly subsequent to the staking operation;

FIG. 10 is a partial view of a spring-loaded plunger for holding thesubassembly within the staking device;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatical view showing a pneumatic ice control systemfor the assembly and staking apparatus, and

FIG. 12 is an electrical control circuit for the assembly and stakingapparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1, a closure such as an end cap 16 having an openinglocated centrally in the base thereof is to be positioned on and stakedto one end of a cylindrical sleeve 17 which is composed of an insulatingmaterial such as a ceramic or phenol fiber. A second closure, such as anend ferrule 18, having an opening centrally located at the base thereofwith an outwardly extended reduced portion is positioned on and stakedto the opposite end of the sleeve 17 to provide a subassembly 19 for afuse body. As shown in FIG. 2, an assembly and staking apparatus,generally designated by the reference numeral Ztl, is provided with acarrier such as an indexable turntable 21 which is formed with aplurality of countersunk apertures 22 radially positioned adjacent tothe peripheral edge of the table. A cap-feeding device, generallydesignated by the reference numeral23, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, ispositioned at a first work station adjacent to the table 21 and isprovided with an air cylinder 24 positioned on a support arm 26 of avertical stand 27 wherein the air cylinder is provided with a piston rod28 extending therefrom. A lower end of a chute 29, which is connected atthe upper end thereof to a vibratory hopper (not shown), is attached tothe stand 27 and is positioner to feed serially caps 16 into a guideblock 31 attached to the stand. The guide block 31 is provided with ahorizontal passageway 32 for receiving the caps 16 wherein the capssubsequently fall singly by gravitational force into a verticalpassageway 33. A spring-loaded plunger 34 is slideably positioned withinthe guide block 31 and is inserted transversely into the verticalpassageway 33 to preclude the free fall ofthe caps 16. The guide block31 is further provided with an aperture 36 which is aligned with thevertical passageway 33 to receive and allow slideable passage to thepiston rod 28 therethrough. As a single cap 16 rests against thespring-loaded plunger 34, the air cylinder 24 is actuated to lower thepiston rod 28 through the aperture 36 and into subsequent engagementwith the cap 16. Continued downward movement of the piston rod 28 urgesthe spring-loaded plunger outwardly. against the biasing action of thespring and permits the piston rod 28 to deposit the cap 16 into one ofthe apertures 22 of the turntable 21 which is aligned beneath thepassageway 33. Thereafter, the air cylinder 24 is deactuated and thepiston rod 28 is retracted upwardly, leaving the cap 16 deposited in theaperture 22 and permitting the spring-loaded plunger 34 to be insertedtransversely into the vertical passageway 33, whereby another cap 16falls by gravitational force onto the plunger 34.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a die-stamping device, generallydesignated by the reference numeral 37, is mounted on a support 38 and abase 39 which is positioned adjacent to the periphery of the turntable21 at a second work station. An upper extension 41 of the support 38supports an air cylinder 42 which has a piston rod 43 extendingdownwardly therefrom to engage the previously positioned cap 16 topreclude vertical movement of the cap within the aperture 22 but topermit rotational movement therein about the cap axis. A die holder 44is attached to the support 38 by a headed pin 46 to permit rockingmovement of the holder about the pin relative to the support. One end ofthe die holder 44 is provided with a die insert 47 which is insertedinto a peripheral slot 48 formed in the turntable 21 contiguous with thecountersunk apertures 22. The die insert 47 is formed with an impressionof indicia respresentative of the particular type of fuse which thesubassembly 19 is to subsequently form a part thereof. An air cylinder49 is pivotally attached to a support 51 and has a piston rod 52extending therefrom for supporting a stepped connecting link 53 which isattached to the opposite end of the die holder 44 for pivotal movementtherewith. As the turntable 21 is indexed to locate the previouslypositioned cap 16 beneath the piston rod 43, the air cylinder 42 isactuated to lower the piston rod into engagement with the cap to preventthe cap 16 from moving vertically during the die-stamping operation.Thereafter, the air cylinder 49 is actuated to rock the die holder 44about the pin 46, whereby the impression formed on the die insert 47 isroll-stamped into the cap 16. The air cylinders 42 and 49 are thendeactuated, whereby the rocking motion of the die holder 44 ceases andthe piston rod 43 is drawn upwardly away from the stamped cap 16.

At a third work station, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the cylindricalsleeves 17 are fed from a hopper (not shown) into a guideway 54 formedin a sleeve-feed device, generally designated by the reference numeral55, which is provided with a feed block 56 and a stand 57 positionedadjacent to the turntable 21. An air cylinder 58 is mounted on top ofthe feed block 56 and is provided with a piston rod 59 with a reducedguide extension 60 on the free end thereof. The piston rod 59 extendsdownwardly from the air cylinder 58 and is slideably positioned within apassageway 61 formed in the feed block 56 where the passageway iscontiguous and converges at a common exit with the guideway 54 of thelower end thereof. As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of air cylinders 62 and 63are provided with piston rods 64 and 66, respectively, which extendtransversely into the guideway 54 and cooperatively function as anescapement mechanism 65. Initially, the piston rod 66 of the aircylinder 63 is inserted transversely into the guideway 54, therebyprecluding downward travel of any of the sleeves 17 which are in theguideway. In this manner, a first sleeve 17 will rest upon the rod 66and the subsequent sleeves will come to rest on the immediatelypreceding sleeve. Thereafter, the air cylinder 62 is actuated totransversely insert the piston rod 64 into the guideway 54 to engage andclamp the second sleeve 17 against the walls of the guideway. As theturntable 21 is indexed to position the previously positioned cap 16directly beneath the piston rod 59, the air cylinder 63 is operated toretract the piston rod 66 from within the guideway 54, thereby allowingthe first sleeve 17 to fall by gravitational force into the area of thepassage 61 which is contiguous with the guideway 54 adjacent to thecommon exit. A spring-loaded plunger 67, which is slidably mounted inthe block 56 and inserted transversely into the passageway 61, precludesthe downward fall of the first sleeve 17. Thereafter, the air cylinder58 is actuated and the piston rod 59 is lowered, whereby the guideextension 60 is inserted into the central opening of the sleeve 17.Continued downward movement of the rod 59 urges the sleeve 17 past thespring-loaded plunger 67, whereby the sleeve is inserted into the openend of the positioned cap 16. Subsequently, the air cylinder 58 isdeactuated and the piston rod 59 is retracted upwardly away from thearea where the guideway 54 converges with the passageway 61. The aircylinder 63 is then actuated to insert transversely the piston rod 66into the guideway 54, whereafter the air cylinder 62 is deactuated towithdraw the piston rod 64 from the guideway, thereby releasing thesecond sleeve 17 so that the sleeve falls by gravitational force andcomes to rest upon the rod 66. Each succeeding sleeve 17 thereafterslides within the guideway 54 by gravitational force and comes to reston the immediately preceding sleeve. The air cylinder 62 is thenactuated to insert the piston rod 64 into the guideway 54, whereby athird sleeve 17 is clamped against the walls of the guideway. In thismanner, the sleeve-feed device 55 is conditioned for a subsequentfeeding cycle.

As shown on FIGS. 2 and 8, the table 21 is indexed to a fourth workstation wherein a sleeve-cap-inverter device, generally designated bythe reference numeral 68, is provided for removing the previouslyassembled sleeve 17 and cap 16 from the table. As shown in FIG. 8, anair cylinder 69, having a piston rod 71 with a guide pin 72 at the freeend thereof, is positioned within a support plate 73 adjacent to theunderside of the table 21 and in alignment With the countersunkapertures 22. A vertical stand 74 is mounted on the support plate 73 andsupports an overhead receiver block 76 having a passageway 77 inalignment with the aperture 22 of the table 21. Subsequent to thepositioning of the assembled cap 16 and sleeve 17 above the air cylinder6?, the air cylinder is actuated to raise the piston rod 71 intoengagement with the assembled sleeve and cap, whereby the guide pin 72is inserted within the apertures of the cap and sleeve and thereafterurges the assembled cap and sleeve into engagement with a spring-loadedplunger 7 8, which is slideably mounted in the block 76 and transverselyinserted into the passageway 77. Continued upward movement of the pistonrod 71 urges the assembled cap 16 and sleeve 17 into the passageway 77,whereafter the piston rod 7 1 is retracted downwardly from within thepassageway and the spring-loaded plunger 78 is urged transversely intothe passageway to preclude the downward gravitational fall of theassembled cap and sleeve. A flexible tubing 79 is attached to thereceiver block 76 and is aligned with the passageway 77, whereafter avacuum source (not shown) is actuated to withdraw the assembled cap 16and sleeve 17 from within the passageway and into the tubing.

As shown in FIG. 2, a ferrule-feeding device 75 is positioned at a fifthwork station adjacent to the sleeve-capinverter device 68 and isprovided with substantially identical structure as the cap-feedingdevice 23 for feeding and inserting the ferrule 18 into the aperture 22previously occupied by the assembled cap 16 and sleeve 17. Thereafter,the table 21 is indexed so that the aperture 22, containing the ferrule'18, is positioned at a sixth work station subjacent to a sleeve-capfeeding device 80, which is connected to the opposite end of theflexible tubing 79. In this manner, the previously assembled cap 16 andsleeve 17 are inverted and fed into the feeding device 80 so that thefree end of the sleeve 17, containing the previously assembled cap 16 atthe opposite end, is inserted into the ferrule 18 in the same mannerthat the sleeve was inserted into the cap. It is to be noted that thevacuum source, utilized in drawing the assembled cap 16 and sleeve 17through the flexible tube 79 and into the sleevecap-feeding device 80,is not shown.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, a staking device, generally designated by thereference numeral 81, is mounted on a vertical stand 82 supported by abase plate 83 at a seventh work station. The staking device 81 isprovided with a U-shaped support 84 having legs 86 and 87 for supportinga pair of air cylinders 88 and 89, respectively. A stationary slidesupport 90 is attached to the U-shaped support 84 between the legs 86and 87, and supports a pair of opposed sliding bars 9 1 and 92 forsliding movement within passageways therein. In addition, the slidesupport 90 is provided with a transverse passageway 93 which is alignedwith the aperture 22 of the table 21. The slide bars 91 and 92 areprovided with inserts 94 and 96, respectively, each of which support apair of pointed staking blades 97 which are aligned in opposing fashionwith the pair of staking blades of the opposite insert. An air cylinder98 is attached to the base plate 83 beneath the turntable 21, and isprovided with a piston rod 99 which is aligned with the aperture 22 ofthe table and the passageway 93 of the slide support 96. A brace 161 isattached to the Ushaped support 84 adjacent to the slide support 96, andsupports a flexible tubing 162 which is aligned with the passageway 93and is attached to a vacuum source (not shown) for withdrawing thecompleted subassembly 19 from the staking device 81. As the table 21 isindexed to a position whereby the subassembly 19 is beneath thepassageway 93, the air cylinder 98 is actuated to raise the piston rod99 into engagement with the subassembly, thereby urging the subassemblyinto the passageway. As .the subassembly 19 is urged into the passageway93, a spring-loaded plunger 1% (FIG. which is positioned transversely inthe passageway, is urged outwardly from within the passageway to allowthe continued upward movement of the subassembly. Thereafter, the aircylinder 98 is deactuated and the piston rod 99 is withdrawn from withinthe passageway 93, whereby the spring-loaded plunger 163 is insertedtransversely into the passageway to preclude the downwardgravitationalfall of the subassembly 19. Subsequently, the air cylinders $8 and 159are actuated to slide the bars 91 and 92 within the passageways 95 ofthe slide support 91), whereby the opposed pointed staking blades 97engage the cap '16 and the ferrule v18 on opposite sides thereof tostake the cap and the ferrule to the sleeve .17. Subsequently, the aircylinders 88 and 89 are deactuated, and the staking blades 97 arewithdrawn from engagement with the cap 16 and the ferrule 18, and thevacuum source (not shown) is actuated to withdraw the assembled andstaked subassembly 19 through the flexible tubing 192 and from thestaking device 81, whereby the subassembly is deposited in a receptacle(not shown).

As shown in FIG. 12, a timing mechanism 104 is provided with a motor 106for operating a camming system (not shown), whereby a plurality ofcontacts of the timing mechanism are cam controlled, thereby energizinga corresponding plurality of solenoids to control the pneumaticoperation of the assembly and taking apparatus 29. During a cycle ofoperation of the apparatus 20, a series of caps 16 are positioned in acorresponding series of apertures 22 for the subsequent insertion ofsleeves 17 therein, ferrules 18 are positioned in apertures 22previously occupied by a sleeve-cap assembly and a subassembly 19 ispositioned within an aperture 22 adjacent to the staking device 81.Assuming that the assembly and staking apparatus 26 has completed atleast one cycle of operation whereby the caps 16, ferrules 18 andsubassembly 19 are positioned in the apertures 22 as described, thefollowing operational description is illustrat-ive of the sequentialoperation of the various controlling air cylinders for the apparatus.Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, all air cylinders are assumed to be at arest position. Thereafter, rotational movement of the motor 106 resultsin the cam closing of a contact 197 of the timing mechanism 164 wherebya solenoid 108 is energize-d. As the solenoid 1118 is energized, an airvalve 1119 is opened to supply pneumatic pressure to the sleeve-feedingair cylinder 53 of the sleeve-feeding device 55 whereupon one end of thesleeve 17 is fed into engagement with the open end of the prepositionedcap 16 as previously described. In addition, the sleeve-capfeeding aircylinder 58 of the feed station 89 is operated to feed the opposite endof the inverted sleeve 17 into engagement with the open end of theferrule 18. Shortly thereafter, and during the period when the aircylinders 58 are operated, a switch 111 is cammed closed to energize asolenoid 1 12 whereby a valve 113 is opened so that the air cylinders 24of the cap-feeding device 23 and the ferrule feeding device 75 aresimultaneously operated to feed a cap 16 and a ferrule 18, respectively,into apertures 22 of the table 21. In addition, a switch 114 is cammedclosed simultaneously with the closing of the switch 111 to energize asolenoid 116, whereby a valve 117 is opened to supply pneumatic pressureto air cylinders 42, 59 and 98 simultaneously. As air cylinder 42 isactuated, the free end of the piston rod 43 is positioned within theopen end of the cap 16 to cooperate with the die-stamping device 37 toroll-stamp a fuse designation on the cap. Further, .as the air cylinder69 is operated, the piston rod 71 urges the assembled sleeve 17 and cap16 into the passageway 77 of the sleeve-cap-inverted device 68, wherebythe sleeve-cap assembly is withdrawn from the device through theflexible tube 79. In addition, the operation of the air cylinder 98urges the piston rod 99 upwardly into engagement with the assembly 19,whereby the assembly is positioned within the staking device 81 for asubsequent staking operation.

Continued operation of the motor 166 rotates the camming system, wherebya switch 118 is cammed closed shortly after the switches 114 and 111 areclosed, thereby energizing a solenoid 1 19 so that an air valve 121 isopened. As the valve 121 is opened, pneumatic pressure is supplied tothe air cylinder 49 to rock the diestamping device 37, whereby a fusedesignation is impressed in the cap 16. Simultaneously with the closingof the switch 118, a switch 122 is cammed closed to energize a solenoid123, whereby a valve 124 is opened to supply pneumatic pressure to theair cylinders 62 of the escapement mechanisms 65 for the sleeve-feedingdevice 55 .and the sleeve-cap-feeding device 86. As the air cylinder 62of the sleeve-feeding device 55 is actuated, the piston rod 64 isextended transversely into the guideway 54 and engages and clamps thesecond sleeve 17 of the serially aligned sleeves against the walls ofthe guideway to preclude the free fall downward movement of the sleeveand of each subsequent sleeve. Simultaneously, the air cylinder 62 ofthe sleeve-cap-feeding device 813 projects the piston rod 64transversely into the guideway 54 and engages and clamps the secondassembled cap 16 and sleeve 17 against the walls of the guideway in thesame manner, thereby precluding downward movement of the assembledsleeve and cap and also precluding the downward movement of eachsubsequent assembled sleeve and cap. Simultaneously thereafter, theswitches 197 and 111 are cammed open whereby the valves 109 and 113,respectively, are closed to deactuate the air cylinders 58 of thesleeve-feeding device 55 and the sleevecap-feeding device 80, and alsothe air cylinders 24 of the cap-feeding device 23 and theferrule-feeding device 75. As the switches 167 and 111 are cammed open,a switch 126 is cammed closed to energize a solenoid 127, whereby an airvalve 128 is opened. As the air valve 128 is opened, the air cylinders63 of the sleeve-feeding device 5'5 and the sleeve-cap-feeding deviceare actuated to withdraw the piston rod 66 which was previously insertedinto the guideway 54 to support the first sleeve 17 and first sleeve-capassembly, respectively. In this manner, the sleeve 17 and the sleeve andcap assembly, which previously rested on the piston rod 66, are allowedto fall through the respective guideways 54 and into the passageway 61,whereby continued downward movement is precluded by the spring-biasedplunger 67. In this manner, the sleeve 17 of the feed device 55 and thesleeve-cap assembly of the feeding device 80 are positioned forengagement by the piston rod 59 for subsequent insertion into the cap 16and the ferrule 18, respectively, as previously described.

Thereafter, the switch 114 is cammed open, whereby the valve 117 isclosed to remove the pneumatic pressure from the air cylinders 42, 69and 98 of the die-stamping device 37, the sleeve-cap-inverter device 65and the staking device 81, respectively. As the air cylinder 42 isdeactuated, the piston rod 13 is withdrawn from within the open end ofthe cap 16 subsequent to the die-stamping operation. Further, as the aircylinder 69 is deactuated, the piston rod 71 is withdrawn from withinthe passageway 77, whereby the previously inserted assembled sleeve 17and cap 16 are preclude-d from downward movement by the spring-loadedplunger 78. Thereafter, a suction is applied through the flexible tube79 to withdraw the assembled slceve 17 and cap 16 through the flexibletube as previously described. Upon the deactuation of the air cylinder9%, the piston rod 99 is withdrawn from within the passageway 93 of theU-shaped support 84, whereby the subassembly 19 is precluded 7 fromdownward movement by the spring-loaded plunger 103.

Subsequently, a switch 129 is cammed closed to energize a solenoid 131,whereby a valve 132 is opened to supply pneumatic pressure to the aircylinders 88 and 89 of the staking device 81. Upon the actuation of theair cylinders 88 and 89, the pairs of opposed, pointed staking blades 97are urged into engagement with the cap 16 and the ferrule 17,respectively, whereby the cap and the ferrule are staked to the sleeve17. As the switch 129 is cammed closed, a switch 133 is simultaneouslycammed closed, whereby a solenoid 134 is energized to open a valve 136.As the valve 136 is opened, pneumatic pressure is supplied to an aircylinder 137 for indexing the table 21 in the direction of the arrow(FIG. 2) so that the previously positioned fuse elements may besubsequently inserted into other elements as previously described. Inaddition, vacant apertures 22 are positioned adjacent to the cap-feedingdevice 23 and the ferrule-feeding device 75 for the subsequent receptionof a cap and a ferrule, respectively. Shortly thereafter, the switch 118is cammed open, whereby the air valve 121 is closed to remove thepneumatic pressure from the air cylinder 49 so that the die-stampingoperation is completed. In addition, the switch 126 is cammed opensimultaneously with the opening of the switch 118, whereby the valve 128is closed to remove the pneumatic pressure from the air cylinders 63 ofthe escapement mechanism 65 associated with the sleeve-feeding device 55and the sleeve-cap-feeding device 80. In this manner, the piston rods 66are inserted transversely into the guideways 54 of the feeding stations55 and 80, respectively. Thereafter, the switch 122 is cammed open toclose the valve 124, whereby the air cylinders 62 of the sleeve-feedingdevice 55 and the sleevecap-feeding device 80 are withdrawn from theguideways 54 thereof. Thus, the sleeves 17 and the sleeve-capassemblies, which are aligned Within the respective guideways 54, fallthrough the guideway due to gravitational force until the previouslyclamped sleeve and sleeve-cap assembly come to rest upon the piston rods66 which are transversely positioned within the respective guideways 54.Subsequent to the opening of the switch 122, switches 129 and 133 arecammed open, whereby the valves 132 and 136, respectively, are closed.As the valve 132 is closed, the air cylinders 88 and 89 are deactuatedto withdraw the opposed pairs of pointed staking blades 97 fromengagement with the staked subassembly 19, whereafter the vacuum source(not shown) is actuated to withdraw the completed staked subassemblythrough the flexible tube 102, whereby the assembly is deposited into areceptacle (not shown). As the valve 136 is closed, pneumatic pressureis removed from the air cylinder 137 and the table indexing operationceases. The entire system is now in a normal state of rest where, uponsubsequent cammed closing of the switch 107, a new cycle will begin.

It is to be understood that the above-described apparatus is simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Itwill be observed that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for assembling a pair of elements having openings forreceiving the ends of an elongated member, which comprises:

means for inserting the elongated member into an opening of one of theelements,

means for inverting the assembled elongated member and the element,

means for inserting the opposite end of the elongated member into anopening of the second of the pair of elements, whereby the pair ofelements are assembled with the elongated member, and

means for supporting the inserting and inverting means in a cooperativerelationship.

2. Apparatus for assembling and staking a pair of elements havingopenings for receiving the ends of an elongated member, which comprises:

means for inserting the elongated member into an opening of one of theelements,

means for inverting the assembled elongated member and the element,

means for inserting the opposite end of the elongated member into anopening of the second of the pair of elements, whereby the pair ofelements are assembled with the elongated member,

means for staking each element to the elongated member, and

means for supporting the inserting, inverting and staking means in acooperative relationship.

3. Apparatus for assembling a first and second element having openingsfor receiving the ends of an elongated member, which comprises:

a carrier having a plurality of spaced apertures,

means for inserting the first element into an aperture in the carrier,

means for inserting one end of the elongated member into an opening ofthe first element positioned within the carrier aperture,

means for removing the assembled member and element from the carrier,

means for depositing a second element in the carrier aperture previouslyoccupied by the assembled member and first element,

means for inverting the assembled member and first element,

means for inserting the opposite end of the inverted,

elongated member into an opening of the second element, whereby thefirst and second elements are assembled with the elongated member, and

means for supporting the carrier and the inserting, re-

moving, depositing and inverting means in a cooperative relationship.

4. Apparatus for assembling and staking a first and a second elementhaving openings with opposite ends of an elongated member, whichcomprises:

a carrier having a plurality of spaced apertures,

means for depositing the first element into the carrier aperture,

means for inserting one end of the elongated member into an opening ofthe first element positioned Within the carrier aperture,

means for removing the assembled member and element from the carrier,

means for depositing the second element in the carrier aperturepreviously occupied by the assembled mem ber and first element,

means for inverting the assembled member and first element,

means for inserting the opposite end of the inverted,

elongated member into an opening of the second element, whereby thefirst and second elements are assembled with the elongated member,

means for removing the assembled elements and elongated member from thecarrier aperture,

means for staking the elements with the elongated member,

means for moving the carrier between the depositing,

inserting, inverting, removing and staking means, whereby the elementsare assembled and staked with the elongated member, and

means for supporting the carrier and the depositing,

inserting, removing, inverting and moving means in a cooperativerelationship.

5. Apparatus for assembling a cap and a ferrule with opposite ends of acylindrical sleeve, which comprises:

a carrier having a plurality of apertures therein,

a first work station adjacent to the carrier having means for singlyfeeding the caps into the apertures of the carrier,

a second work station adjacent to the carrier and spaced from the firstwork station having means for singly feeding the cylindrical sleevesinto the caps positioned in the carrier apertures,

a third work station adjacent to the carrier spaced from the second workstation having means for removing the assembled sleeve and cap from thecarrier aperture and inverting the assembly,

a fourth work station adjacent to the carrier spaced from the third workstation having means for singly feeding the ferrules into the aperturesof the carrier previously occupied by the assembled sleeve and cap,

a fifth work station adjacent to the carrier spaced from the fourth workstation having means for feeding the opposite end of the inverted,assembled sleeve and cap into the ferrule positioned in the carrieraperture,

a sixth work station adjacent to the carrier spaced from the fifth workstation having means for removing the assembled sleeve, cap and ferrulefrom the carrier aperture and staking the cap and ferrule to the sleeve,

means for periodically indexing the carrier to position the aperturesthereof adjacent to the plurality of work stations whereby the cap andferrule are assemibled and staked with the sleeve, and

means for supporting the carrier, the work stations and the indexingmeans in a cooperative relationship.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the first work stationcomprises:

a guide block having a passageway therein for receiving singly caps froma cap supply wherein the passageway is spacially aligned with thecarrier aperture,

an air cylinder having a piston rod extending into the passageway of theguide block, and

means for actuating the air cylinder, whereby the piston rod engages thesingly fed cap in the passageway of the guide block and urges the capfrom the passageway into the aperture of the carrier.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the second work stationcomprises:

a feed block formed with a first and second passageway which converge ata common exit spacially positioned above the apertures of the carrier,

the first passageway provided with a plurality of serially arrangedsleeves fed from a sleeve supply,

an escapement mechanism attached to the feed block for feeding singlythe sleeves through the first passageway to the common exit,

an air cylinder having a piston rod extending into the second passagewayin axial alignment with the common exit for engaging and urging thepositioned sleeve into the cap previously positioned in the carrieraperture, and

means for actuating the escapement mechanism and the air cylinder,whereby the sleeve is fed to the common exit and the piston rod urgesthe sleeve into the cap positioned in the carrier aperture.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the third work stationcomprises:

a receiver block having a passageway therein axially aligned and spacedfrom the apertures of the carrier,

an air cylinder spacially positioned subjacent to the carrier having apiston rod axially aligned with the apertures of the carrier forengaging the assembled sleeve and cap and raising the assembly into thepassageway of the receiver block,

means for removing the assembled sleeve and cap from the blockpassageway and inverting the assembly, and

means for actuating the air cylinder, whereby the piston rod urges theassembled sleeve and cap into the block passageway.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the fourth work stationcomprises:

a guide block having a passageway therein for receiving singly ferrulesfrom a ferrule supply wherein the passageway is spacially aligned withthe carrier aperture,

an air cylinder having a piston rod extending into the passageway of theguide block, and

means for actuating the air cylinder, whereby the piston rod'engages thesingly fed ferrule in the passageway of the guide block and urges theferrule from the passageway into the aperture of the carrier.

10. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the fifth work stationcomprises:

a feed block formed with a first and second passageway which converge ata common exit spacially positioned above the apertures of the carrier,

the first passageway arranged for receiving serially the invertedassembled sleeve and cap therein,

an escapement mechanism attached to the feed block for feeding singlythe inverted assembled sleeves and caps through the first passageway tothe common exit,

an air cylinder having a piston rod extending into the second passagewayin axial alignment with the common exit for engaging and urging thesleeve and cap assembly toward the previously positioned ferrule,whereby the open end of the sleeve is inserted into the ferrule, and

means for actuating the escapement mechanism and the air cylinder,whereby the assembly is fed to the common exit and the piston rod urgesthe open end of the sleeve into the ferrule in the turntable aperture.

11. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which tthe sixth work stationcomprises:

a staking device spacially positioned above the carrier having apassageway axially aligned with the carrier apertures for receiving theassembled sleeve, cap and ferrule therein,

an air cylinder subjacent to the carrier having a piston rod axiallyaligned with the apertures of the carrier for engaging and urging thesleeve, cap and ferrule assembly into the passageway of the stakingdevice,

a pair of air cylinders having piston rods extending therefrom,

a pair of staking blades attached to the free ends of each piston rodpositioned in opposition to the pair of staking blades attached to theother piston rod for transverse insertion into the passageway of thestaking device,

means for actuating the air cylinders, whereby the pairs of opposedstaking blades are inserted into the passageway of the staking deviceand engage the cap and ferrule on opposite sides thereof so that the capand the ferrule are staked to the sleeve, and

means for removing the staked sleeve, cap and ferrule assembly from thestaking device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,992 1/34Makenny 29-208 2,692,424 10/54 Habel 29208 3,037,269 6/ 62 Barstrom eta1. 29-203 WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING A PAIR OF ELEMENTS HAVING OPENINGS FORRECEIVING THE ENDS OF AN ELONGATED MEMBER, WHICH COMPRISES: MEANS FORINSERTING THE ELONGATED MEMBER INTO AN OPENING OF ONE OF THE ELEMENTS,MEANS FOR INVERTING THE ASSEMBLED ELONGATED MEMBER AND THE ELEMENT,MEANS FOR INSERTING THE OPPOSITE END OF THE ELONATED MEMBER INTO ANOPENING OF THE SECOND OF THE PAIR OF ELEMENTS, WHEREBY THE PAIR OFELEMENTS ARE ASSEMBLED WITH THE ELONGATED MEMBER, AND MEANS FORSUPPORTING THE INSERTING AND INVERTING MEANS IN A COOPERATIVERELATIONSHIP.